Person Information

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    William Chapman Ralston

    Birth: 1-12-1826

    Death: 8-27-1875

Relationships

Spouse

Ralston, Elizabeth | Marriage Date: 5-20-1858

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Biography

William C. Ralston was born in Ohio. In 1849 he moved to the Pacific coast and became President of the Bank of California. He also invested in sugar-refineries, silk-factories, steamship lines to Australia and China and the construction of the Palace and Grand Hotels. In August 1875 James Flood called on the Bank of California for 6 million dollars and the institution could not meet this demand. It was forced to close, and William was forced to resign. William had to surrender all of his personal property to the bank. After which William drowned himself. 

Letter References

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
William C. Ralston was born in Ohio. In 1849 he moved to the Pacific coast and became President of the Bank of California. He also invested in sugar-refineries, silk-factories, steamship lines to Australia and China and the construction of the Palace and Grand Hotels. In August 1875 James Flood called on the Bank of California for 6 million dollars and the institution could not meet this demand. It was forced to close, and William was forced to resign. William had to surrender all of his personal property to the bank. After which William drowned himself.
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography; Volume: Vol. VI
Publisher Location: 
USA
Year: 
2016
Start Page: 
164
Citation Notes: 
http://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=AmericanCyclopedia&h=4611&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Cje608&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=60249
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26231568&ref=acom
Title of Webpage: 
Find a Grave
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, September 18, 2017 - 15:45
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, September 18, 2017 - 15:45
Citation Notes: 
Burial: Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma San Mateo County California, USA
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=FS1CASFAreaFuneralHomeRecs&h=97716&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Cje608&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=7163
Title of Webpage: 
Ancestry.com
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, September 18, 2017 - 15:45
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, September 18, 2017 - 15:45
Citation Notes: 
Ancestry.com. San Francisco Area, California, Funeral Home Records, 1850-1931 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1931. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.